Fashion copycat mum

Q My mum is young and loves fashion - and she keeps borrowing my clothes. This may seem cool to my friends, but it's starting to annoy me. It makes me feel unconfident about my own style and that maybe I'm wearing clothes that are a bit old for me. How can I tell her to find her own style without being mean? Sarah

A I think you have to look at this positively, even if it is your mum who loves your taste enough to copy it. My mum despaired of the things I used to wear. You shouldn't feel unconfident about your own style, though - it sounds more like your mum is trying to stay young and trendy rather than you who's dressing in an older style. The solution is to shop with her and let her lead the trip. Keep silent while she browses and let her make decisions. If her choices come too close to yours, make other suggestions.

Gently guide her in another direction or introduce the help of a personal shopper who can make suggestions and be a neutral judge (make sure the shopper is clear that this is your mum). The other option is to take her to different stores from those where you shop - she may take the hint and also find she likes the new styles. Good luck.

Q I saw something about a range called 'Topshop Mini'. Is this childrenswear and, if so, what age range is it for? Karen

A Yes, this is a new collection from Topshop. Following the success of the maternity range - currently being worn by the likes of Gwen Stefani - the store has launched babywear for little girls. Very cute and desirable it is, too. The idea is to mirror the mainline collection with fabrics and trends, so if you and your daughter fancy dressing the same way, you can find pieces that match. At the moment it is only available in the London Oxford Street and Dublin branches and from the website. The range is for newborn to 6-12 months.

Key pieces to look for include a floral jersey dress with matching knickers and a puffball dress in linen or denim. The good news is that prices are reasonable. The bad news is that there's no matching range for boys. Let's see if Topman follows suit - and hope the hoodies and denims work on baby sons.